Weekly Roundup August 11-17

Photo by Ashley Yellick 2017

Check out this week’s upcoming events in Greater Longfellow and Minneapolis!

Coming next month!LoLa Art Crawl @ Longfellow Neighborhood, Saturday & Sunday, Sep 16 & 17 The League of Longfellow Artists (LoLa) Art Crawl showcases the diverse work of the artists/crafters/makers living and working in the Longfellow neighborhood of South Minneapolis. The 9th Annual LoLa Art Crawl connects the public with local artists at their studios, in their homes, and at local businesses to discover unique art from over one hundred creators. Keep an eye out for the official list of participating artists and their site locations in early September.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

**Longfellow Community Council will be changing it’s office hours. Effective as of Tuesday, August 1, LCC will be open from 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday.**

Former Rainbow Foods Site Development: Community Meeting @ Development Site, 2921 S 27th Ave. Tuesday, August 29 at 6-8pm. Everyone is welcome to this open house! View plans / Developer presentation / Q&A / Community survey

Music in the Parks, May 29-Sep 4Over 200 FREE outdoor concerts! The 2017 schedule has something for everyone, including Jazz, Latin, Swing, Folk, Rock, Bluegrass, Classical more. See and enjoy great local talent at one of our six venues:

Kilt and Corset Night @ Merlin’s Rest Pub, 3601 E Lake St, All night! Get in the spirit of your heritage by wearing your Tartan. Or if the mood strikes, why not a corset? This gathering takes place every Friday!Irish Session & Highland Pipes @ Merlin’s Rest Pub, 3601 E Lake St, 8:30pm. A traditional Irish music session lead by the finest musicians around with interludes by Highland pipers! If you play Irish music, you are welcome to join in! This is a very impromptu gathering that occurs most Fridays. However, some Fridays the crew may be otherwise engaged. Come early for a great spot!

Saturday, Aug 12

Reading from Walk Towards It @ Moon Palace Books, 3260 Minnehaha Ave. 4-5pm FREE. Enjoy a reading from the new anthology Walk Towards It. Over twenty writers, poets, thinkers gave to this anthology of urgent writing, lists to remember, love letters to carry with you.Released on inauguration day January 20th, 2017. A small act of resistance and dreaming to join countless other acts of resistance and dreaming as we walk with the ANCESTORS at our backs and the YOUNG running before us towards the world we want/ need/ desire/ deserve. Readers include: Ricardo Levins Morales, Coya White Hat-Artichoker, Susan Raffo, Lila Sarene, 신선영 Sun Yung Shin, Lisa Marie Brimmer, Juma B. Essie, Josina Manu Maltzman, and Ellen Marie Hinchcliffe.http://www.moonpalacebooks.com/event/reading-walk-towards-itJaedyn James & The Hunger with Hennepin County Millionaires Club @ The Hook and Ladder Theater, 3010 Minnehaha Ave. 8pm. Doors 8pm / Music 8:30pm / 21+ / $9 Advance / $12 Day of Show. Jaedyn James & The Hunger fight hunger. Bring non-perishable food items to the show and help fill the shelves at The Food Group. Stickers to all those who give!Bio: Jaedyn James & The Hunger is an 11 piece, raw funk, aggressive soul band who burst onto the Minneapolis music scene in the fall of 2014. Consumed by her passion Jaedyn James, was determined to assemble a group of collaborative musicians who could cultivate music, acceptance, and empowerment. The Hunger is built on a foundation of friendship, honesty, and respect. Playing regularly around the Twin Cities for three years. JJ&TH is no stranger to a variety of venues and audiences. This tantalizing group of weirdos has performed in warehouses, dive bars, and elite jazz clubs. No stage too small. No dance floor too sticky. The band loves to play.The Hunger brings the heat; Jaedyn James, a fiery sparkplug- ignites her band and audiences. A natural to the stage, JJ grew up in awe of artists such as James Brown, Etta James, Lucille Ball, Marina Abromovich, EE Cummings, and Billie Holiday. Miss James exudes confidence drenched in goofball truthisms. It’s obvious when seen live, JJ&TH take their fun very seriously. In fact, you are expected to dance at a Hunger show. Self expression is encouraged, laughing is inevitable, standing still and staring at your phone is not option. JJ&TH is a feeling. A community. A family. A celebration of hard work, self discovery, and love. Website: jjandthehunger.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jjandthehunger/

Bio: The Hennepin County Millionaires Club is a 7-piece band from Minneapolis. Drawing from a wide variety of influences, “HCMC” incorporates elements of rock and roll, country, ska, pop, reggae, New Orleans, funk, and soul. Despite having a great breadth of influence, it’s difficult to say that any of those genres would accurately describe their music. Their sound is original and unique, but remains cohesive and catchy, with a general pop sensibility. Instrumentation includes a 3-piece horn section, 2 guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, and vocals. All of which are featured prominently throughout the music. They’ve recently released their first official full-length album “In Loving Memory of Johnny Becker” recorded at Secret Stash Records in Minneapolis. After experiencing the tragic death of band member and dear friend, Johnny Becker, this album has now become a tribute to Johnny. It celebrates the life of a beloved musician, even in loss and grief. Over the years, members of HCMC have been active in the local music scene with bands such as Sonny Knight and the Lakers, PaviElle, Black Market Brass, More Than Lights, the Gated Community, Derobe Dance Band, Church of Cash, Danami, among others.Link to stream song “Not Ready to Say Goodbye” from album:https://soundcloud.com/hennco-millionaires-club/hennepin-county-millionaires-club-not-ready-to-say-goodbye-1Social media: www.facebook.com/hennepincountymillionairesclubtwitter – @henncomillionsinstagram – @hennepincountymillionairesclubMatrix (1999) @ The Riverview, 3800 42nd Ave S. 11:30pm* All Seats $3 (Rated: R / Runtime: 2hr 16mins.) A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers. Directors: Lana Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers), Lilly Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers) Writers: Lilly Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers), Lana Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers) Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne MossThe Midwest Renewable Energy Fair: Transition Towns – emPOWERing community @ Yellow tent, 4pm. The longest-running sustainability and renewable energy festival in the nation, is coming to the Twin Cities. Choose from more than 100 workshops on sustainable living, renewable energy, energy efficiency and Transition! Enjoy live music, exhibits, family activities, local food, solar-powered beer, and more. While the workshops are free, you can also buy an All-Access Pass for admission to keynotes, all live music & entertainment, and solar professional workshops. Passes cost $10 to $25. Jawaahir Dance Company in the MN Fringe Festival 2017 (A Pocketful of Jewels: Dance Gems from North Africa & the Near East) @ The Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave NE, 5:30pm, $22. A Pocketful of Jewels reveals a world of hidden dance in North Africa & the Near East. Engaging entertainment wraps earthy dances in gloriously colorful costumes. Artistic Director Cassandra Shore is your tour guide, delivering informative cultural contexts to the dances and fascinating info about the costumes, dance, and music! Learn about when, where, why, and how you would be able to see these dances (or not) when visiting the region. A family friendly and most enjoyable hour! For more info: www.jawaahir.org or tickets and more info: http://www.fringefestival.org/Celebrate Latino Art and Culture! • ¡Celebre el Arte y la Cultura Latina! @ Clues St. Paul, 797 East 7th St, 11am-4pm, FREE. This family friendly community festival will highlight the vibrancy of the Latino culture with delicious Latino food, live music, folkloric and contemporary dances, art and crafts, fitness activities, free health exams, legal advice, raffles and prizes, delicious food and other fun activities for the whole family! http://www.clues.org/wp_clues_espanol/fiesta-latina/

Sunday, Aug 13

Monday, August 14

Exhibition Opening: FEAST w/ Interact @ Birchwood Café, 3311 E 25th St. Interact is proud to announce an upcoming art exhibition opening at Birchwood Cafe. The exhibition is the second event in the series leading to the fall performance, Feast of Fools. The culmination of a year long project examining the role of food in our society. During 2017, Interact Visual Artists explored the subject of food through art examining their relationships and experiences both new and previously existing. Exploration was both communal and individual by embracing our artist’s cultural traditions by exploring different ethnic foods, using meal as still life, and challenging literal versus abstract representations of everyday nourishment. The artists have approached the call in a variety of media and styles to demonstrate their experience of one of the most basic building blocks of life, food.Artists included are: Angela Weller, Ashlea Karkula, Bonnie Thorne, Carol O, Daniel Metchnek, Ingrid Hansen, Janice Essick, John Riddle, Lucy Johnson, Mike Harris Jr., Renai (Volz) Drane, Rosemary Perronteau, Sherry Bartholomew, Vance Diamond, W.S. Norton, Wendy Johnson Thank you to Birchwood Cafe and Changing Landscapes at the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota for supporting this exhibition. This exhibition will be on display August 14th – October 8th 2017. Interact Center for Visual and Performance Art is a local organization, focusing on the creation of art that challenges perceptions of disability – pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms and creating radical inclusion through the unique perceptions of our artists. Each differing perspective inspires artists and audiences to explore the full spectrum of human potential and expand perception of the possibilities.

Tuesday, August 15

Talk to Me: How Early Conversations Impact a Childs Life @ University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave N, 8:30-10pm FREE. We think much can and must be done to improve the quality of early childhood experiences so children will thrive. We think learning experiences should adhere to best practices. That teachers should be skilled, knowledgeable, and engaged. That children need a safe, healthy, and child-friendly environment. And that stimulating activities should be balanced with appropriately structured routines. We think every child is unique, and each child’s situation is different. We think their success depends on the adults in their lives—parents, early childhood professionals, policymakers and other influential people—making the best choices for children. That’s why we Think Small. https://www.thinksmall.org/

Community Forum: Save the EPA w/ Keith Ellison @ 1800 Glenwood Ave. FREE 6-7:30pm. Every day, the Trump administration attacks something that we as Minnesotans hold dear – inclusion, fairness, peace, economic equality. The cronies he tapped to run the Environmental Protection Agency are doing to the same thing to our environment. Whether hacking entire programs, eliminating thousands of vital positions, rolling back rules that fought climate change, gutting science advisory panels, or stacking the agency with industry shills, it’s clear that Trump’s EPA is trying to do everything but protect the environment. Despite the current situation, there is reason to hope. Come and join Congressman Ellison along with environmental advocates, scientists, and musicians to learn about Trump’s plan for the EPA and how we’re fighting back in Congress.

Wednesday, August 16

Merlins Rest Pub Quiz @ Merlin’s Rest Pub, 3601 E Lake St, 7:30. The Quizmaster is their own Minister of Culture, Bill Watkins. His legendary quizzes will test your knowledge! Don’t worry, there are a few easy ones in there. Bill is here to intrigue your curiosity, not make you feel stupid. They do not accept reservations for Pub Quiz, taking place every Wednesday. This event tends to fill up quickly, so arrive early to assure a seat!

Valve Turners Dinner and Conversation in Minneapolis w/ Shut It Down – Climate Direct Action @ Black Dog Cafe, 308 Prince St. 6-8:30pm. Join valve-turners Annette Klapstein and Emily Johnston for dinner and conversation about climate direct action and pipeline resistance on August 16th, 6pm at in the back “Zen room” of the Black Dog Café https://vimeo.com/187580141 Valve-turners and their support team face felony charges in Minnesota with sentences up to twenty years. On October 11, 2016, they and three other valve-turners across WA, MT, and ND simultaneously closed safety valves on all 5 pipelines that carry tar sands crude oil into the United States. This act of climate disobedience shut down 15% of US crude oil imports for nearly a day. The valve-turners say their actions are not only necessary, but morally and legally justified to avoid the catastrophic harm caused to humanity by unprecedented climate disruption.

We hope to here from Clearwater County Court on August 15th that we will be allowed to bring the “necessity defense” to the courts, asking communities to look at their direct actions as morally imperative. We see their legal process as an opportunity to normalize the necessity of direct action and we hope that local supporters will stand in solidarity at trial to show the courts that Minnesotans stand for climate direct action, too. Annette and Emily’s trial date is not yet known, but we anticipate within six months.

We saw a remarkable recognition of climate catastrophe by jurists at the first of the valve-turner trials in Skagit County, WA this year. Many on the jury entered the trial with a strong disbelief in climate change, but during trial were so moved by climate facts and the passion of valve turner Ken Ward, that they became advocates for his innocence, refusing to convict. His first trial resulted in a hung jury on both felony counts, and the second trial ended in a hung jury on one of two counts after which he was sentenced to the lightest possible sentence (30 days community service rather than years in prison). We hope for equal revelations by the public, press, and courts in the similarly conservative areas of Minnesota.

Making Home Book Group w/ Longfellow Transition Group @ Lake Coffee House, 3223 E Lake St. 6:30pm. In our read-out-loud book group this month, we’ll be digging into the most difficult challenge yet – spouses, family, and friends. “I want to prepare for peak oil/live more sustainably/change my life to deal with climate change… and my spouse (and/or the rest of my family) doesn’t want to, or doesn’t think it is important.”

On the first Wednesday, we will read chapter 10 on marriage and on the 3rd Wednesday, chapter 11 about extended family, whoever you consider that to be, and how we can prepare to welcome “climate refugees,” which may be your friends and family members who had to flee a hurricane or flood.

We read out loud so you never have to worry if you haven’t read the chapter before you arrive.

Thursday, August 17

United Way Action Day 2017 @ CHS Field, 360 Broadway St. 6-8:30pm FREE. The St. Paul Saints and United Way are teaming up to bring thousands of your friends, family and neighbors together for our biggest volunteer project of the year – Action Day! Volunteers will stuff 10,000 backpacks full of school supplies that will be donated to local nonprofits. Hit a homerun for hometown students by volunteering so our community partners can send kids back to school ready to rock!In addition to the volunteer projects, we have plenty to do throughout the evening: kid-friendly activities, games and prizes, a Crayola Experience for our youngest volunteers, mascot appearances, ballpark eats and more!Action Day doesn’t have rain delays! We’ll have the concourse and surrounding outdoor area tented, just in case. https://www.gtcuw.org/event/united-way-action-day-2017/

SisterTree CD Release Party @ The Hook and Ladder Theater, 3010 Minnehaha Ave. Fulton Beer Presents SisterTree CD Release Party with special guests The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League, & Bob Pat of The Bob Pat Band Doors 8pm / Music 9pm / 21+ / $9 Advance / $12 Day of Show. The Hook and Ladder Theater hosts a night of folk, strings and harmonies featuring SisterTree’s CD Release Party with local favorites Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League, and outstanding singer/songwriter Bob Pat. 9:30pm: SisterTree –SisterTree renders radiant, expansive harmonies for strings and voices, original and traditional tunes and folk ballads, favorites and downright far-fetched selections suited to many occasions. For ceremonies and celebrations, festivals and front porch parlors, we bring you musings that are grounded in Traditional Roots, Celtic and Americana. Exploring with an Independent spirit, roving over the wild and storied landscapes of life, collecting, tinkering, and translating our heritage, we seek the alchemy of fulfillment through self-expression.11pm: GATL – The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League is a string quartet that brings the smoky rhythms and sizzling leads of Prohibition swing into the 21st century.9pm & 10:45pm: Bob Pat –Bob Pat band is a multi-genre talented musician that shares a love for creating great music. The genres he most identifies with are; Funkdifying, Baby-Making, with a splash of Classical. “The music is so diverse and unique it has built a genre of it’s own,” said some guy, once.